Originally from Puerto Rico, the coquis that colonized the Big Island are believed to have hitched a ride on some potted plants from Florida in the 1990s. With no snakes, tarantulas or other natural predators to curb the population, the frogs proliferated, and state officials fear the little gray-brown amphibians will upset Hawaiis delicate ecosystems by devouring insects vital to pollination. Officials also worry the frog could harm export plant sales. Then theres the sound. In Puerto Rico, the coquis call is likened to sweet music and is celebrated in poetry, literature and song. But to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, a state agency, their vast numbers create a loud, incessant and annoying call from dusk to dawn. The male frogs chirp at about 90 decibels, roughly as loud as a lawn mower or garbage disposal.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:22:09 +0000
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